PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fausto Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alfredo Capobianco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rivas
vs
Capobianco

161 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fausto Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alfredo Capobianco!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Capobianco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Capobianco has picked Rivas up - he's going for a ride! Capobianco dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rivas trying to hold on to Capobianco's head to control him but Capobianco postures up.
Rivas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Capobianco moves nicely into side control.

Capobianco goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rivas has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Capobianco but great work by Rivas.
Capobianco can't do much from the bottom here.
Capobianco is looking to regain half guard here but Rivas keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Capobianco struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capobianco dodges the ground and pound from Rivas.
Rivas working away.
Capobianco tries to improve position but can't.
Capobianco struggling a bit here.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Capobianco taking a bit of punishment here - Rivas scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Capobianco tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rivas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivas gets to mount! Capobianco was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Capobianco tries to reverse the position but Rivas maintains control.
Rivas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rivas trying to control but Capobianco is having none of it.
Capobianco can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capobianco tries to hold on but Rivas pushes him away.
Capobianco is looking to improve his position but Rivas isn't that keen on the idea.
Capobianco is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rivas lands a heavy elbow.
Capobianco tries to hold on but Rivas postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rivas is landing with some decent strikes but Capobianco is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rivas avoids the attempt from Capobianco to control.
Capobianco regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Capobianco is refusing to be controlled, as Rivas sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fausto Rivas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rivas enables Capobianco to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rivas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Capobianco looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Capobianco looking to sit in guard and control but Rivas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Capobianco tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Capobianco is looking for a triangle here but Rivas uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rivas wants to control but Capobianco is keeping him busy.
Capobianco struggling a bit here.
Capobianco sneaks back into half guard.
Rivas tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Capobianco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rivas throwing shots but Capobianco is blocking nicely.
Capobianco is trying to control but Rivas passes into side control!
Rivas working away.
Capobianco on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Capobianco can't do much from the bottom here.
Capobianco manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas is staying active underneath Capobianco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Capobianco prevents Rivas from improving his position.
Fausto Rivas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivas is staying active underneath Capobianco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Capobianco is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rivas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Capobianco.
Rivas is staying active underneath Capobianco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Capobianco is working for a submission of some sort.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rivas gets tackled into the cage by Capobianco. Capobianco maintains the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Capobianco just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfredo Capobianco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Capobianco takes the fight into the clinch.
Rivas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Capobianco smiles and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Capobianco drags the fight down to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivas wants to stand but Capobianco is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rivas preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivas drops back, looking for a kneebar! Capobianco looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Capobianco looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Capobianco!

Capobianco remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rivas tries to bench press Capobianco off him but Capobianco keeps the position.
Capobianco tries to advance to mount but Rivas denies him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capobianco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivas keeps working.
Capobianco advances nicely into full mount.
Capobianco tries to control but Rivas wriggling away.
Rivas tries to lock up and control but Capobianco gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rivas is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas is working to get back to half guard.
Rivas is squirming around, avoiding Capobianco's attempts to control the action.
Capobianco looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Capobianco has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Capobianco throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Capobianco takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Capobianco tries to control but Rivas wriggling away.
Capobianco wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Capobianco thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alfredo Capobianco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Capobianco has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alfredo Capobianco!